Shanling EC Zero T Max portable CD player launches with CD ripping, dual vacuum tubes, 4.4 mm balanced output, BT 5.3, and a high-power headphone amp

The Shanling EC Zero T Max portable CD player has launched with a multitude of features for CD and high-resolution music enthusiasts. The EC Zero T Max is based on the company’s EC Zero T, a portable CD player using tubes for its output circuitry (sold here on Amazon), but with a more powerful headphone amp.

Shanling has upgraded the 24-bit R2R DAC from the original model with greater power output, a wider soundstage, and improved audio transparency. The amplifier now outputs up to 1,300 mW at 32 ohms over 4.4 mm balanced headphone connections using the transistor amp mode and up to 1,162 mW at 32 ohms using the tube amp mode. The power boost allows the CD player to drive high-power headphones like the Audeze LCD-5s planar headphones (sold here on Amazon) with ease.

The EC Zero T Max outputs music with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 kHz (-0.5 dB, playing digital music) and 20 Hz to 20 kHz (playing CD music), a S/N ratio of 117 dB, and a THD+N of 0.02% in transistor mode and 1% in tube mode.

The CD player's 5,500 mAh battery can power it for up to 7.5 hours when driving balanced headphones, up to 8 hours when driving unbalanced headphones, and up to 20 hours when transmitting to Bluetooth headphones using the aptX Adaptive, aptX, or SBC wireless codecs, according to the company. It can be integrated into home theaters using its digital out and analog line out jacks while powered by a 5V, 2A USB-C power supply.

Discs are stabilized during playback in any orientation, even while walking about, with a magnetic clamp helping reduce mechanical noise and vibration. CDs can be ripped to a USB flash drive as uncompressed WAV files.

The metal-body player with a tempered-glass lid weighs 669 g (1.47 lbs.) and measures 158 x 150 x 28 mm (6.2 x 5.9 x 1.1 in.). It is controlled by a physical volume slider and buttons.

The Shanling EC Zero T Max portable CD player has an MSRP of $629. Readers can also look for it to arrive in the Shanling store on Amazon US.